Services

Our services are provided on both an inpatient and outpatient basis through consultation with a collaborative clinical and academic team, allowing you to receive the highest quality of care. Our practice specializes in:

A debilitating condition is a chronic or progressive medical condition that impairs a person’s strength or ability.

Spasticity Management

Spasticity is a type of muscle stiffness that is caused by an imbalance of signals sent from the central nervous system to the muscles. It can occur as a result of damage to the spinal cord or brain and is a common condition in those with spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy. Symptoms of spasticity may include overactive reflexes, involuntary movements, pain, abnormal posture, and bone and joint deformities. Spasticity frequently affects mobility, positioning, comfort and your ability to perform activities of daily living.

Orlando Health Rehabilitation Medicine has a well-integrated team of medical professionals with the expertise to successfully manage your spasticity. In many cases, spasticity can be managed effectively with a variety of treatments. Commonly used management strategies for spasticity include:

Oral medications

Muscle stretching, positioning and movement exercises

Bracing and splinting

Chemodenervation injections

Intrathecal therapy

Chemodenervation

Chemodenervation is a procedure in which neurotoxins or other chemical agents (e.g., BOTOX®, Xeomin®) are used to immobilize overactive muscle movements by blocking nerve signals sent from the brain. Chemodenervation is used to treat a variety of neurologic conditions, including helping to reduce the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, spasticity and other movement disorders.

These injections can provide temporary relief from pain and muscle spasms and can also allow you to move and strengthen your muscles.

Intrathecal Balcofen Pump Management and Trials

The intrathecal baclofen pump is a mechanical device that is surgically implanted and delivers medication directly into the brain and spinal cord. You may be a candidate for this treatment if you have severe spasticity involving your legs or arms that does not respond to oral medication.

Patients who could potentially benefit from the pump undergo a trial to assess their response to the therapy. If there is a favorable response during the trial, you are admitted for surgical implantation of the pump.

Electromyography/Nerve Conduction Study (EMG/NCS)

Nerves control the muscles in your body with electrical signals called impulses. These impulses make your muscles react in specific ways. Nerve and muscle problems cause the muscles to react in abnormal ways. If you have leg pain or numbness, you may be tested to find out how your nerves are being affected. These tests check how well your spinal nerves and the nerves in your arms and legs are working.

An electromyogram (EMG) measures the electrical activity of your muscles at rest and during contraction. This test can find the cause of weakness, paralysis or muscle twitching that could be caused by problems in a muscle, the nerves supplying a muscle, the spinal cord or the area of the brain that controls a muscle. It can also find diseases that damage muscle tissue or nerves, such as a herniated disk or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Nerve conduction studies (NCS) measure how well and how fast your nerves can send electrical signals. An NCS is done to find damage to the peripheral nervous system, which includes all the nerves that lead away from the brain and spinal cord and the smaller nerves that branch out from those nerves. This test is often used to help find nerve problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome or Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Technology

AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmill®

Orlando Health Rehabilitation Medicine offers the AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmill® as part of treatment plans for our patients. The weight-assisted treadmill training system reduces the impact of gravity to as low as 20 percent of a patient’s body weight, allowing you to walk or run without pain — while feeling safe and supported.

After you step inside the treadmill’s cockpit, the bubble-like pouch is zipped up and sealed. The antigravity treadmill’s technology system then weighs you and uses a formula to calculate how much air is needed to assist you. The sealed portion then fills with air based on the formula and the therapist’s settings. The virtually weightless workout protects healing tissue, prevents muscle loss, encourages range of motion and improves motor control.

Other treatment options may take longer because more time is needed for pain and discomfort to subside in order to progress with different physical activities. The antigravity treadmill offers a unique rehab experience with positive outcomes.